The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-20
COTTON In THE SOUTH.
is IT INsURABLEp A QUESTION DIS
CUssED THREE YEARS AGO.
A Well Known Southern Underwater
Discusses the Dangers Which Deset
Insurance Men, but Thinks II Safe
with tho Proper Restrictions.

This was q topic discussed by Mr.. John c.
Whitncr we'll known insurance man, and
authority rs early MS 1884. Mr. Whitner
carried an his discussion by q scricS of let
tors TO the New York Financial Chronicle,
and which attracted So much favorable ut
tcnton and comment that they were pub
lishcd in pamphlet form by the Chronicle
for gratuitous distribution among insur-
ance men, In view Of the paramount i'm
portancc Of the subject and the intelligent
views and ideas advanced 10y Mr. Whitncr,
liberty h taken with the pamphlet for the
following compilation;
"Wiih some underwriters this has again
become u question for consideration. The
vast amount Of money gone M in cotton
blazcs recently renders an excuse for is
consideration unnecessary. True, II looks
little startling at first II seems hard to
say that cotton, heretofore regarded as 80
safe and profitable as 10 authorize, in the
Judgment Of many underwriters, u larger
line II not less rate than that upon dwell
ings. should now ~ suddenly be thrust Co
the fore in the terrible inicrrontivc form,
isit insnrablc2 Really, years have tome
nndgone, and with them have gone into cot
ton fires, never 10 return, much NJ the
profits bf southern insurance, and there
seem 10 bc no period 10 this woe.
''lOsscs have come and insurance com
panics tind that cotton will burn. Indeed,
unless IL hc powder. We know Of nothing
~ easily ignited by spark or blaEe ns
this same thing cotton. And the question
moccurs. and We ah il in all Difference To
the opinion Of others As cotton N han
died IN the. south, IL IL inaurablc2
eve are willing, for the present, 20 adj
nit that there ~ rcallyno moral hazard in
volvcd, and ~ consider the risk pcr ~.
We remember that Immediately after the
war, Notwithstanding the dcmonllizcd con
diiion attending the tunes, this same Hiticlc
puecd through the terrible moral ordeal OF
being reduced In price from over ~ per
pound ~ even . or 10 cents per pound,
and yet insurance companies made money
by insuring H. Then, too, IL was In the
hands OF factions and wawhouscmcn for
the hCneh, of others. We think IL IL u
small matter that the waphousemcn have
their commissions insured. The ware
houscman knows that the cotton IL good
Tor his commission II Il does not burn,
therefore there is no need Tot him To burn
H. There H. though n question OF moral
hazard which may enter more largely than
insurers might se, at thc iilsi glance, and
II Is the fact thnt holders OF cotton may
gain, aud probably do gain, very largely
by fr Ia the mnttcr of Glaze ncliions. Cot
ton Is classified not before bat after fire.
by samples saved, aud frequently without
any ramgl,- leing saved sonc ~ have
bound that those clmsidCatiuns have run
up pretty high.
1--WE will msk you Ia - with uH 10 any
pVu whvru cotton h stored. Tho Inst thing
10 siIike Won viii be the very hasiy aud
uarclcss handling II the cotton itself You
find in the wap h0ue's loose cotton an ON,r
The iloor, while the bales stare NJ Won, cut
IN grrai slices, large surfaces ol cotton being
exposed On the wharN,'s, which arV Just
Ear enough apart iur boats, siy two ahrH-t
10 cuue IN, stand the cotton balra upur
the ends, slushed IN the same way and
with loypc cotton coNrringthc plank floors
Ask The iirit colofud man YOU meet ON tli,
wharf, who Is also aiding In the hnndlm,
Of the cotton. i0r match. and he instant
~ thrusis bis lingcn into his vest pockr
aud hauls. no doubt from q quantit,
loose thcrcin, plrlur match. The cotton
has no taTaulins over IL Ia protect 10 irun
sparks, aud, therefore, would appear 10 u,
inviting Gre. Speaking Of matches, an in
sumucu gentleman told us short tim,
ago ilnt On one Of thpsc Whar,os bunch
OF Iailur matches rummcd Together, with
the stick pptiy well cut on, wis found
lying upon thc floor Frequently siugl,
mai,hrs iinNu hvcn thus found.
without going anN lurlhcr into dc
TAILED ncconpt ui condition, We ask u
material. the most inilammGblc ~ Tho
world, exposed as above described, inmr
able vt nlll Would not frame hinges %
twenty a. sixty be- pricruhlci Would MOI
cotton lins, with all their hazards, scpnr
aicd irlm each other, and pu,pling Nv,
small amounts thereon, at good mi,f, b,
pvirmhlri
-. Consider tho extreme mnamlnabil
NY ~ cotton, We know oi no commodii,
entering 90 ANY extent into commcp'
which can compare with Il IN Tits pnriiru
lar. standard kerosene will cNtingish
blaze. cotton will not. Many safeguard
an property thrown around the handlini
and si1mg' Oi Kerosene by state aud mu
niclpal lawe, few, often none. With refer
cncc o. cotton. Spirits Of iuueniinc, IN
ilamnablo % u b, will cxiinguish your ha
iuil vi live GOALS; cotton will not. No
only does cotton catch fin easily, In ans
AMI every form, and under all rlrcum
~
cndangrn even the lives 81 those attempt
ing 10 exiinguIsh Il.
"2. Consider, therefore, ~ corollar,
nom The above, the extreme dangers {,
which cotton h ~ easily aud NJ general,
exposed. Anything ON earth that rli
bring i In contact with flame on Gre, UNri
though the latter be but the dying spul
waited from n distant burning, or th
stump 81 n finished .ignr or cigarette, q
The cindcr Of apasing engine, OF parlo
match dropped lrum the pocket.
q. Consider the extreme Canalossncfa II
W. handling aud housing. This rurclcsi
nc@ begins with lbs fimt manipulation OF
tho plantation. II u escapes fir IN th
ginning thcrc Is still time lett In the pack
Ing iof the inevitable match, or oven liz
coal frOm the Pipe, 10 be dropped into th
center, there 90 shoulder aud burn f.
weeks before discovery. This caclcssncs
u continued ~ Il IA conveyed 10 market
On the wagon the driver aud tlinsc accom
panying smoke their pipes while mtin
upon Il. AZ the railroad depot Il soxp0sc
10 the paascr by. who often lights lis pip
or cigar by striking his match ON The iru
band and TO the trlinp WHO loves 10 ulct.
upon II, ns well ~ 81 sparks from ever
passing engine. Still m0c II II rNpusc
when loaded on the open platform can
without even iarpaulin, 10 tlic sparks ,
The locomotive drawing the train, and /
dangers nll along The road. Many q tim
irain has 10 bo riopm'd IN onlor To pt
out the hfcs started 10 tic cotton by Ties
sparks. The uost u u is, Wien nach.n